Evaluation of a psychiatric day hospital program for elderly patients with mood disorders

Abstract

A biopsychosocially-focused day-hospital treatment program was associated with improvements in depression in a large sample of elderly adults with mood disorders. Except for depression severity at admission, patient characteristics had very little impact on treatment outcomes, suggesting that day hospital programs are beneficial for a wide range of depressed elderly adults.

Longitudinal assessment of psychotherapeutic day hospital treatment for elderly patients with depression

“…As one could expect, this amelioration was associated with increased rating in the assessment of mental aspects of quality of life (Pyne et al, 1997;Bramesfeld et al, 2001). Our findings parallel the few earlier reports showing that elderly patients with moderate depression can be effectively treated in a day hospital settings (Plotkin and Wells, 1993;Bramesfeld et al, 2001;Mackenzie et al, 2006). However, most of the previous studies remained ambiguous in respect to the relative contribution of concomitant medication changes and life events, and provided no details about the model of care used.…”

“…In contrast, others suggested that day hospital programs prevent inpatient admissions, facilitate earlier discharge, improve clinical symptoms and allow for longer maintenance at home (Howard, 1994;Rosenvinge, 1994;Hoe et al, 2005). For instance, they make it possible a significant reduction of depressive symptoms in elderly patients with mood disorders, improve their functional level and quality of life, and promote social contacts (Bramesfeld et al, 2001;Mackenzie et al, 2006). Several methodological problems such as small number of cases, poor definition of the psychotherapeutic setting, and absence of systematic assessment at different time points limit the validity of these observations.…”

Personality Traits Influence Clinical Outcome in Day Hospital-Treated Elderly Depressed Patients

“…14). 18,19 Using a prospective longitudinal design, we investigated whether NEO-PI factors and facets influence treatment outcome in elderly outpatients with depression who received psychotherapeutic treatment in the context of a psychogeriatric day hospital. 15 In this context, care is constituted not only by all individual or group therapeutic activities but also the relationships with peers and staff.…”

Clinical correlates of difficult-to-treat depression: Exploring an integrated day-care model of treatment

“…most studies focus on specific sub-populations, such as geriatric (10)(11)(12) and post-natal depression (13). to our knowledge, no univocal definition of eligible patients and treatment programmes seems to be attainable at the moment.…”